Three Teachings and Nine Streams - Color Illustration Edition

Author: Zhai Wenming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-01
Features: Vivid social history, lively human relationships, using historical records to narrate the politics, economy, culture, social life, and underworld of ancient China, uncovering the most authentic page of Chinese history, and presenting a colorful tapestry of social dynamics! Over 300 exquisite illustrations, including rare photographs of artifacts, folk paintings, and portraits, allow you to get close to history and experience culture. The language is clear and fluent, combined with formats, images, and design elements, integrating knowledge, fun, and artistry to provide readers with greater aesthetic enjoyment and imaginative space.
The term "Three Teachings" originated in the Three Kingdoms period and refers to the Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist schools. The term "Nine Schools" first appeared in the Book of Han·Bibliography, referring to the Confucian, Mohist, Taoist, Legalist, Syncretist, Dressed, Namesake, Yin-Yang, and Diplomat schools during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Later, "Three Teachings and Nine Schools" gradually evolved into a division of ancient social classes and occupations. At this point, the connotation of "Three Teachings and Nine Schools" changed, specifically referring to people of different professions across various social strata in the feudal society. With the development of history, "Three Teachings and Nine Schools" now broadly refers to various academic schools and trades in society, as well as being used to generically describe all kinds of people in the underworld.
This book introduces the Three Teachings (Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism) and nine feudal-era occupations: entertainers, eunuchs, ruffians, secret societies, prostitutes, beggars, gamblers, geomancers and fortune-tellers, and merchants. It concisely explains the origins, doctrines, key figures, and influences of China's traditional Three Major Religions. At the same time, it describes the emergence, development, main professional characteristics, and famous figures of these nine typical ancient occupations, exploring the cultural connotations of social professions with an objective attitude.
The editor strives to present readers with a fresh feast of historical culture through clear and fluent narration, combined with scientific formats, rich images, minimalist layouts, and unique design, offering greater aesthetic enjoyment and imaginative space.
This book comprehensively introduces the main ideas, viewpoints, and influences of the Three Teachings (Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism) and the Nine Schools (Confucianism, Legalism, Namesake, and others), as well as the widely known "Upper and Lower Nine Schools" professions.